Plant · GBIF taxon 5304583
cornstalk dracaena
Dracaena fragransAlso known as Corn Plant, Fragrant Dracaena, Happy Plant
Cornstalk dracaena thrives as a slow-growing evergreen shrub in tropical African uplands, reaching tree-like proportions in native forest understories. Its thick, cane-like stems bear dense rosettes of glossy, arching leaves that frequently feature bright yellow or cream central stripes. Highly prized worldwide as an indoor foliage plant, mature specimens produce clusters of highly fragrant, night-blooming white flowers that fill the evening air with a sweet scent.
HouseplantFragrant FlowersBroadleaf
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- Mealybugs
- Spider Mites
- Scale Insects
ThreatsHabitat Loss, Agricultural Clearance
HabitatsTropical Upland Forests, Woodlands, Domestic Gardens
Life span20–100+ years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAsparagales
- FamilyAsparagaceae
- GenusDracaena
- SpeciesDracaena fragrans
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Toxic to dogs and cats if ingested; keep out of reach of household pets.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains steroidal saponins that cause vomiting, salivation, and dilated pupils in cats and dogs.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Features thick, woody stems topped with rosettes of long, arching green leaves with bright yellow central stripes.
- What to do
- Keep indoors on elevated stands out of reach of household pets, and seek veterinary care if leaves are chewed.
Responsible observation
- Indoor Care: Provide bright, indirect light and allow the top soil layer to dry between waterings.
- Pet Safety: Place indoor pots on high stands to prevent dogs and cats from chewing the leaves.
Close Relative No machine-readable author provided. B.navez assumed (based on copyright claims). / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Mokkie / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Ong Jyh Seng, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Ong Jyh Seng · cc-by-sa
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